Rivalries

The U of M vs. MSU game was last Saturday. One of the biggest rivalries in college sports in my opinion.  And I'm not saying that because I live in Michigan, but it really is.  The tension between the fans is intense!  I love it! Rivalries are one of the best parts about sports.

Rivalries bring a whole other aspect to the world of sports.  It isn't a game anymore, it's almost life or death.  For MSU and U of M, it's easily one of the most important games of the year, EVERY year.  No matter how bad the other team is, bragging rights are essential for that year.

Some people can take rooting for the team a bit too seriously.  Their trash talk reaches a limit that no one should be at.  When you start getting angry and bringing down fans of the other team, that's when you stop.  The night that U of M won, my friends were arguing on Twitter about the game and one decided to say, "Well you don't and never will go to either school, so it doesn't matter what you think".  I jumped in REAL quick.  Just because you don't go to that college means you can't be a fan? All right, well that means no one can go to any games anymore except the "STUDENT" section.  It made me and the friend he was insulting very angry.  I ended up burning his Michigan State lanyard though, so it's all right now.

But like I said, rivalries can be really awesome, but some get taken too far.  People need to know when to quit.

Oh you know, just burning an MSU lanyard

Rivalry

One of the biggest rivalries in college football is coming up. Next Saturday, the University of Michigan hosts the Michigan State Spartans.  Personally, I'm pumped.  I'm a huge Wolverine fan and I have a pretty good feeling this year.  It hasn't been the best performances for the Wolverines the last couple years.  But coming off this Illinois win, well shut out to be exact, things are looking up finally! 45-0 is a pretty exciting victory.  Now let's keep it going!  

Sports rivalries are simply the best.  Non-stop trash talking is always a joy in sports.  But the most important part, bragging rights!  It'll be kind of crappy for me though, I'll be down in East Lansing next Friday and Saturday.  That'll surely be a joy.  I'm tempted to wear U of M clothing, but I wouldn't want to get jumped by the State fans...  I'll stick to a random color.  Maybe purple.  Yeah, purple sounds safe to wear.

Any who, along with U of M and State, another rivalry is taking place that weekend.  My old high school, Western, and our long time rivals, Bay City Central will be playing.  Western had their first loss of the season last week to Midland High for the SVL title.  So they best be coming strong to take this one!

Breaking Records

Setting a record or even breaking one in the world of sports is probably an amazing feeling.  I can't really imagine it.  Knowing you just topped a statistic that no one else has.  Or broke a record that no one has been able to touch in who knows how long.  That has to make an athlete feel awesome.  Probably close to feeling on top of the world.

Drew Brees is probably feeling pretty good seeing that he broke a record yesterday in the Saints' first win of the season against the San Diego Chargers (31-24) bringing their record to 1-5. I mean, the first win alone is a turning point for their season.  But breaking a record on top of that must be nice.  The record he broke was formerly held by Hall of Fame QB Johnny Unitas. By throwing a touchdown pass in yesterday's game, that takes Brees to 48 straight games with a touchdown pass.  

The record was half of a century old.  Unitas set it from 1956 to 1960.  But now it's Drew's record.  Yesterday he threw for 370 yards which put him over 30,000 yards as a Saint.  Those stats alone are enough to be proud of.  And now he holds this record.  Which he'll probably end up increasing to increase for the rest of the season if he continues to stay healthy. I'm not really a Saints or Brees fan, but this is a great accomplishment on his part.

Drew Brees and teammates

Salaries in Sports

What if I told you I got paid millions of dollars to hit a ball and run around bases for a living? Even better, I got paid more to do that than soldiers get for fighting for our freedom, or doctors saving lives, and pretty much everyone else with a job in America. Well that'd be true if I played in the Major League Baseball, or any other professional sport.  They get paid so much money just for us to watch them play their sport.  When you step back and look at it, it doesn't make much sense. Especially with the lock outs when the players want even more money. That is so stupid! You get paid more than everyone else who works just as hard and they aren't even doing a fun job. At least they get to play the sport they grew up loving.  While the other half of us slave away at a desk or whatever it is that we might do.

In my opinion, professional sports players make enough money as it is.  I don't know how they can complain.  If I got paid to play a sport, best believe I'd be dying happy.  Too bad I'm not that talented.  But it just aggravates me to see all these athletes complain. Cherish what you have while 80% of the rest of the country is struggling to make ends meet.  If anything, you should be paid less.  Your salaries shouldn't be any where near what they are.  Endorsements are another story.  If a company wants to pay you millions to just show up and take pictures and endorse them, that is their fault.  Even though they probably bank twice as much off of you as they pay you.  I guess that's just the world we live in.

LeBron James. Took a pay cut to play in Miami. Still makes $16

 million a season..

My Bestfriend

My blog topic is supposed to be sports, but sports are the last thing on my mind right now.  So my apologies, but sports will not be involved in this post.  This is about my best friend Jake.  You know how when you are little and all the kids are wanting to grow up and be doctors or firemen?  Well Jake wasn't one of those kids.  He set a goal and he's reaching to tomorrow.  Well boot camp isn't really his goal, but being a Marine is.  And boot camp is the stepping stone to becoming one.  And that's exactly where he is headed.  Here I thought I had about 20 some more days left to see my best friend before everything changes.  Well everything changed this morning when I got a call from him and he told me he's leaving tomorrow now.  I felt like someone took my mattress and flipped me out of my bed.  "You're joking right ya jack ass?" is what I wanted to say but I just asked if he was serious.. and he was.  All I could think was, "How the HE double hockey sticks is this happening??".  Well it's pretty simple.  Think of everyone in a single file line, if someone leaves the lines in front of you it's your turn next.  Well the guy in front of him got into a car accident and had to get out of line.  Meaning Jake was next up.  So just like that, my friend ships for the Marines tomorrow.  I cried as soon as I hung up the phone with him.  I'm not even the one shipping out and I'm over here crying like a girl?  Doesn't make much sense.  But after being best friends all of high school and most of middle school,  it all comes back and hits you like a freight train.  I guess all I can say is good luck Jake and take care of yourself.  I couldn't be more proud.  Love you man.

 

NHL Lockout

After the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiration date, the NHL released a statement saying although it has expired, they are still working on a solution with the Owners and Players of the league.  But that doesn't help us out any since they're still locked out!  You'd think after seeing how angry the NBA lockout made its fan, that the National Hockey League wouldn't want to follow in those foot steps and do the exact same thing in the same year!  I absolutely despise professional sports lockouts.  They're pointless and stupid.  Not to mention they waste so much time!  The worst part of it is, is that usually somewhere causing the lockout is selfishness.  Either the players wanting more money, the owners, or even coaches.  It's all really unfortunate.  As if they don't make enough money already?!!  They could all easily buy my house ten times for kicks and gigs.  So what if your insurance went up on your Lamborghini, sell one of them!

(Evgeni Malkin, left and Sergei Gonchar, right)

I guess it's just going to have to be waited out like the NBA.  It makes me angry.  There's so much time in the off season to handle this stuff.  But at least most of the players will still play.  Some of them have already signed over seas.  Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar have already signed with Metallurg in the KHL. (Russia-based, Kontinental Hockey League).  Over 300 Players from the NHL played in Europe during the '04-05 lock out, so it would not surprise me if a lot did this year too.  They don't know how long this could last, so why not play some where else if you can?  Some players say it's too expensive to insure their NHL contracts and play over seas at the same time.  Others have families that they can't just up and leave.  So I guess we'll see how this season goes, if there is one.

Lakers' Trade and Signing

This year was a pretty hectic year for the NBA.  With the lock out at the beginning of the season, it was beginning to look like there wouldn't even be a season this year.  But once it kicked off, the trade rumors around the league began to take over the headlines.  Since they didn't have much time before the trade deadline, teams had to hold off until the off season.  The first big signing was the AMAZING free agent, Steve Nash.  His contract ended with the Phoenix Suns and he had said he couldn't stay there any longer if they weren't making immediate changes to the roster in order to help him win his first championship.  People may say he's not a loyal player anymore after leaving the Suns organization after so long, but why would he continue to stay if they haven't given him any help in all these years?  LeBron made the same decision and it won him an NBA Championship.  That's what these players are in the league for... Championships!  But this scenario was no where near as big of story as LeBron's.  I don't mind that though, Steve Nash has always been my favorite player and he definitely does not deserve to be put on the negative spot light for going to any organization that could quite possibly win him his well deserved Championship.  

On top of signing Steve Nash, another big move was the four-team trade the Lakers' took part in to acquire Superman himself, Dwight Howard.  Although I haven't been a fan of him lately because he pretty much quit on the Magic, but this deal excites me.  Steve Nash deserves a ring more than any other player playing in the NBA right now.  That might just be my own opinion, but I'm sure that anyways who knows the NBA slightly well can vouch for me on this.  He's almost 40 years old now; his time in the league is short.  GET HIM A RING LOS ANGELES!!